Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions

Abstract

WITH THE realization that mammography significantly reduces breast cancer mortality, an increasing number of women are undergoing screening mammography followed by biopsy of suspicious lesions. The reported biopsy yield of cancer is 10% to 40%,^1-4 which means that up to 90% of women who are exposed to the discomfort, morbidity, and cosmetic effects of surgical biopsy have benign lesions. When the cost of surgical biopsy, and the fact that scarring from surgical biopsy interferes with subsequent mammography, are added to those factors, the need for a less invasive and less expensive procedure becomes obvious.